Washing machine



.A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tfi.i.

1,640,343 1927' A, w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1925 1927' A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INYEN 11:159.-

1927' A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12. 192:; 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

STATES PATENT UFFlCE,

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ALTORFER BROS. COM- PANY, OF EAST IPEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed December 12, 1923.

This invention has reference to new and useful improvements in washing machines, and it relates particularly to that type of washing machine employing vacuum cups as the washing elements, and which are reciprocally mounted in the machine tub or water container. 7

The invention has for its principal objectto provide a machine with two or more vaclo uum cups, preferably three and means for displacing one or more of said cups, preferably two, whereby convenient and easy access may be had to the clothes containing tub or container for the placing of clothes within the tub and removal of same there from.

The invention has for a further object to provide a washing machine with three vacuum cups without the necessity of enlarging the cross-sectional area of the clothes container or tub, and to so mount the cups on their reciprocal support that two of the cups may be displaced by hinging or pivoting the supports and stacking the two said cups partially on the third cup,

whereby to provide a free and unobstructed space approximately one half the width of the clothes container for the convenient and easy insertion of the clothes into the clothes container and removal of the same therefrom.

' In carrying out the invention to obtain the results herein aimed at, various structural modifications may be made in the manner and form of mounting and displam ing the vacuum cups.

That the invention may be more fully understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a plan view in dotted outline of a washing machine tub or container showing my improved vacuum cu structure, the dotted line position of tie cups showing how the two cups are displaced and partially stacked on the other cup;

Figure 2 is an elevation partly broken away showing the cups and arrangement in full and dotted line positions", as in Figure Figure 3 is a detail in elevation, partly in section, as the same would appear on the line 3-3 Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail in elevation showing Serial No. 680,164.

the same would appear on the line 6-6 Figure 2;

Figure 7 is'a plan view of a modified cup structure, wherein only one cup is raised, when the cups are displaced, whereas in Figure 1 two of the cups are raised;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the cups and their arrangement shown in Figure 7 I Figure 9 is a plan view of a further modilication of the cup structure, all cups in normal position;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the cup structure shown in Figure 9, except that two of the cups are folded and partially stacked on the other cup;

Figure 11 is an elevation of the cups as they are arranged in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an elevation of the cups as they are arranged in Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a detail in elevation, partly in section as the same would appear on the line 13--13 Figure 10, and

Figure 14 is a detail in elevation, partly in section as the same would appear on the line I l-14 Figure 10.

Like characters of reference denote CO1 responding parts throughout the figures.

In the drawings I have purposely omitted the details of the washing machine structure, other than the cups and mount ings therefor, as I am not. concerned with such details, or the means and mechanism for imparting reciprocal movement thereto. The tub of the machine is preferably shown in dotted lines and is designated A and may be of any well known type of tub or container used in machines of this character. The vertically disposed reciprocal shaft is designated 1 and is designed to pass up through the bottom of the tub or container and to be connected at its lower end with means or mechanism not shown, for imparting a vertical reciprocal movement thereto, and if desired an intermittent rotary movement, either positive or impositive, according to the wishes of'the manufacturer or user may be imparted to said shaft; but as such parts do not enter into the manner and means of supporting the cups, whereby ion they may be displaced by hinging or pivoting, such means or mechanism has been omitted.

From the upper end of said reciprocal shaftlare suspended, preferabl three vacuum cups-2. These cups, as s own in full lines in Figures 1 and 9 are normally positioned or spaced equidistantly around the shaft 1; the arrangement being such that three cups may be used in tubs or contain-- ers, wherein were previously employed only two cups and Without increasing the diameter or cross-sectional area of said tub or container. Three cups have the advantage over two cups, in'that they cover a greater working surface on the water in the tub and on'the-materials to be washed therein, and being carried or supported by hingeable or pivotable supports whereby the cups, or at least two of them may be displaced, clothes may be inserted into and removed from the tub or container with greater ease and convenience than where two cups are employed which are neither hingeableor pivotable, see Figures 7 and 10.

While thehead support for the cups on the upper end of the shaft 1 is substantially the same, the preferred supporting, as well as the hingeable or pivotable means for the cups, is shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6;

the remainingfigures, with the exception of Figure 3, show modified arrangements of the cup, mountings and the means to raise the cups, whereby two of said cups may be partially stacked on the third cup, or one of said cups partially stacked on the other two.

The head support for the cups on the upper end of the shaft 1, preferably comprises a collar 2 secured to the 11 per end of said shaft 1 and having an annu ar groove 3 and a base flange 4. Loosely rotatable on the collar 2 above the flange 4 is a sleeve 5 formed or provided with a radially disposed cup supporting arm 6 from the outer end of which is suspended, a vacuum cup 2 which ispreferably'fixed in its relation to said arm; that is, it may move up and down with said arm and rotate therewith about the shaft 1, but has no movement independent of said arm. Said sleeve is further provided with, preferably diametrically arranged and radially disposed wings 7 forming pivotal bearings for the inner ends of other cup support-in arms 8, the outer ends of which are provided with vertically dis posed tubular bearing sleeves 9 having angular slots 10 opening out of the upper wall of said sleeves, and to the inner ends of the arms 8 are connected short upstanding lugs or pins 11. The inner ends ofthe arms are preferably bifurcated, as shown'in Figure 2 to straddle the wings 7 of the sleeve 5 and are pivotally connected thereto, through I and by means of pivot pins 12. Slidable vertically in the sleeves 9 of the arms 8 are teac es stems 13 to the lower ends of which are connected cups 2 and the protuding upper ends of said stems are formed or provided with finger gripping rings 14 by means of which the stems and cups connected therewith may be raised. To each stem 13 is connected a radially projecting in 15 insertable into an angular slot 10 8y lowering the stems and by turning the stems transferring the pins to the terminals of the slots, see Figures 2 and 4. By turning the stems 13 from the'position shown'in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5 and lifting the stems, said stems and cups may be caused to assume the elevated position shbwn in Figure 5 and the dotted position shown in Figure 2, withi the pins 15 removed from the slots 10. This is the position the cups I 2, supported by the stems 13, should assume or be in when the arms 8 are hinged or pivoted for displacing them and partially stacking them partially over or above the other cup 2, and is accomplished by the attendant grasping the finger holds 1 1 of the stems 13, turning them in their bearings, as explained, and lifting them, while at the same time swinging the arms 8 from the full line osition shown in Figurel to the dotted line position in said figure, with the cups supported by the arms 8 swung over and above the cup depending from the arm 6.'

If desirable teats 16 may be provided on the cup 2 depending from the arm 6, over which the other cups may ride or be slipped, as shown in Figure 2 to hold said cups in such inactive positions. It being assumed,

of course, that the arms 8 are only hinged or'pivoted when the power is oil and the shaft 1 is at a standstill.

The arms 8 are normally held in their operative postions and in proper relation to each other and the arm 6, by means of a spring 17 connected at opposite ends to the pins 11 on the arms 8, the movement of the latter in the direction of each other is limited by stops 18 connected to the sleeve 5 with which the arms 8 engage, in the position shown in Fi re 1. When the arms 8 are hinged or pivoted for displacing the cups 2 thereof, and moved from the full line position in Figure 1 to the dotted line position in said figure,'tl1e spring 17 is expanded and immediately as it crorses the axis of the sleeve 5 and shaft 1, said spring contracts and pulls the arms 8 into the dotted line position shown in Figure 1.

or stem. Also, while the sleeve and cup supporting arms are connected to the upper end of the shaft 1 to be-reciprocated up and the cup supporting and hinging or pivoting structure. The difference being that instead of partially stacking two of the cups over the third cup, one cup is stacked over the other two, as is plainly seen in the figures. This is accomplished by providing the arm 6, corresponding to the arm 6 with a slotted bearing sleeve 9 similar to 9 and raising thecup therein, in manner seen in Figures 1 and 2. and by providing the hingeable or pivotable arms 8 corresponding with 8 with fixed depending supports for the cups 2, like the support for the cup 2 on the arm 6. In other words in Figures 1 and 2 the cups on the hingeable or pivotahle arms are arranged to be raised whereby they may be partially stacked over the other cup, whereas in Fig ures 7 and 8 the cups on the hingeable or pivotable arms may not be raised, but the other cup is raised to swing the cups on the hingeable and pivotable arn'is therebeneath.

In Figures 9 to 14, both inclusive, it is arranged to hinge or pivot two of the supporting arms 8*, corresponding to 8. as in Figures 1 and 2, the structural difference being that the cups 2 are not raised on or in the arms, as in Figures 1 and 2, but the arms themselves are raised and lowered at their fulcrums, and the springs 17 connecting the arms are omitted and a modified structure substituted therefor.

Such modification consists in connecting the pivot pins 12 preferably integrally with the inner ends of the arms 8". instead of separately and independently thereof, as in Figures 1 and 2 and provide them much longer whereby the arms 8 may be raised and lowered telescoping the pins in the wings 7 of the sleeve 5 while at the same time swinging said arms on the pins to hinge or pivot the structure, displacing the cups carried thereby and partially stacking the same on the other cup 2 of the series. To facilitate the raising and lowering of the arms 8*, said arms are provided with hand grips 14", as shown. The inner end of each arm 8 is formed or provided with a perforated plate extension 22 adapted to ride beneath an overhanging ledge or shelf 23 in which are yieldingly held buttons 24 to engage said perforated plate extensions 22 to retain the arms 8 in the normal operative positions shown in Figure 9. When said arms are in hinged or pivoted position and the cups are stacked, as shown in Figure 10 the cups carried thereby will engage and be held bv the teats 16.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description that there are several ways f r hinging or pivoting certain of the. cups and also that it is possible to partially stack two cups on one, or one on the other two; also that it is possible to vary the raising up the cups and to hold the cup supporting means in different positions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. and I, therefore, do not wish to be confined to details of disclosure. except as expressly stated in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a vacuum cup washing machine. in combination, a support, a plurality of cup supporting arms carried by said support, cups suspended from the outer ends of said arms, certain of said arms being hingedly connected with said support for displacing the cups carried by said arms, and means to permit the manual raising of certain of said arms and cups for staching all the cups in relation to each other.

2. In a vacuum cup washing machine. in combination. a vertically disposed shaft. a plurality of cup supporting arms, means for attaching said arms in radial relation to said shaft and to swing loosely therearouml. the attaching means for certain of said arms being )ivoted on their attaching means for circinnfercntially displacing the ups carried by said arms.

3. In a vacuum cup washing machine. in combination, a vertically disposed shaft. a plurality of cup supporting arms, cups suspended from the outer ends thereof, means for attaching said arms in radial relation to said shaft to swing loosely therearouinl. the attaching means for certain of said arms being pivoted on their attaching means for circnmferentially displacing the cups carried by said arms, and means to permit manual raising of certain of said arms and cups for stacking all the cups in relation to each other.

1. In a vacuum cup washing machine, in combination, a vertically disposed shaft, a plurality of cup supporting arms. means for attaching said arms in radial relation to said shaft, cups suspended from the outer ends of said arms. certain of said arms being -ivoted on their attaching means for circunn ferentially displacing the cups carried by said arms, and means for holding said piroted arms in normal operative position.

5. In a vacuum cup washing machine. in combination, a vertically disposed shall. a plurality of cup supporting arms. means for attaching said arms in radial relation to said shaft, cups suspended from the outcr ends of said arms, certain of said arms be ing pivoted on their attaching means for circumferentially displacing the cups carried by said arms, and spring retention means for holding said pivoted arms in normal operative position.

6. In a vacuum cup washing machine, in combination, a vertically disposed shaft, a pluralityof cup supporting arms, means for attaching said arms in radial relation to said shaft, (ups suspended from the outer ends of said arms, certain of said arms being pivoted on their attaching means for circumferentially displacing the cups carried by said arms, means to permit manual raising of certain of said arms and cups for stacking all the cups in relation to each other, and means for holding said pivoted arms in normal operative position.

7. In a vacuum cup washing machine, in combination, a vertically disposed shaft, a collar secured to the upper end of said shaft, a sleeve connected with said collar to rotate freely therearound, a cup supporting arm fixedly connected with said sleeve, and other cup supporting arms having a pivotal connection with said sleeve whereby they may be moved for circumferentially displacing the cups carried thereby.

8. In a vacuum cup Washing machine, in combination, a vertically disposed shaft, a collar secured to the upper end of said shaft, a sleeve connected with said collar to rotate freely therearound, a cup supporting arm fixedly connected with said sleeve, other cup supporting arms having a pivotal manna-a sleeve on said collar, a cup supporting armfixedly connected with said sleeve, and other cup supporting arms pivotally connected with said sleeve, whereby they may be moved in relation to said fixed arm for displacing the cups carried thereby.

10. In a vacuum cup washing machine, a

vertically disposed oscillatory shaft, a plurality of cup supporting arms, means to support said arms in normal different radial positions from said shaft, means to permit of manual lifting of certain of said arms to an elevation above the other of said arms, and means to permit of circumferential movement of said certain arms when elevated whereby the cups carried thereby may be displaced from their normal operative positions. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto atlixed my hand this 8th day of December, 1923.

ALIPHEUS W. ALTORFER. 

